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Improving the Value of Standard Toxicity Test Data in REACH

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Regulating Chemical Risks

Abstract

Worldwide, environmental risk assessment strategies are based on the assumption that measuring direct effects of single substances, using a few single species tests, in combination with safety factors correcting for extrapolation inconsistencies, can be used to protect higher levels of biological organization, such as populations and even ecosystems. At the same time, we are currently facing a range of pollution problems (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series 2005), of which some could at least indirectly be linked to the fact that this assumption may not be fully valid. Consequently, there is an ongoing scientific debate on whether current chemical control protocols are sufficient for protection of ecosystems, and numerous suggestions for improvements have been presented by the scientific community, e.g. alternative tests and testing strategies. On the other hand, few of these suggestions actually reach the regulatory world (or become implemented), and risk assessment today basically follows the same paradigm as 30 years ago. While the new REACH regime is exceptionally ambitious, this chapter observes several problems and gaps in this regulatory framework. We suggest measures and approaches which imply increased ecological realism and understanding in future regulatory work.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE 106 81, Stockholm, Sweden

    Magnus Breitholtz, Elin Lundström & Ulrika Dahl

  2. Deparment of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, 260, DK 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Valery Forbes

Authors
  1. Magnus Breitholtz
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  2. Elin Lundström
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  3. Ulrika Dahl
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  4. Valery Forbes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Magnus Breitholtz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Political Science, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels allé 7, Flemingsberg, 14189, Sweden

    Johan Eriksson

  2. , Department of Political Science, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels allé 7, Flemingsberg, 14189, Sweden

    Michael Gilek

  3. , Philosophy Unit, Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 78B, Stockholm, 10044, Sweden

    Christina Rudén

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Breitholtz, M., Lundström, E., Dahl, U., Forbes, V. (2010). Improving the Value of Standard Toxicity Test Data in REACH. In: Eriksson, J., Gilek, M., Rudén, C. (eds) Regulating Chemical Risks. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9428-5_6

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